Latest Community Posts

Fellow colleagues:   I am facing a critical issue as I look at next year’s (2011-12) schedule.  We are on a block system, and historically we have shared blocks with band.  This means in our 85 minute period, half of the time is a band rehearsal, half of the time is a choir rehearsal.  Over […]

I am in my second year as choir director (adult and youth) at a Methodist church that does traditional worship at the services at which I am responsible.  Larger church, with a generally older congregation, and some issues at the church in general.   Out of the blue (after having done Brahms’ Geistliches Lied, which we […]

Listers, Can anyone recommend a good recording of Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, satb version? Thanks!

I was thinking it might be nice to remember the old man by using his Lullabies, Opus 49, Mixed Voices (1984) for Christmas during the 9 Lessons and Carols.  I just heard them on Youtube and they’re exquisite.  But would it suit better to do the Five Marian Songs, Opus 54, chorus a cappella (1985) or the Two […]

I teach HS/MS Choir in a small rural district (300 MS students, 400 HS students) that cut nearly all electives except Band and Choir at the MS.  On the bright side my classes have balooned to nearly 50 singers (20-25 boys) each.  On the down side, I now have a 7th, and an 8th Grade […]

Anyone have a recording or video link for this new Rutter piece?

I direct a choir whose average is probably 68 to 70.  Some of my sopranos get very “tinny” and flat as they go higher.  I have no idea how to get rid of this piercing sound.  Some tell me they can’t sing high unless they sing loudly.    I’ve tried talking about head voice; rounding […]

Help!!   I teach at a wonderful 7-9 Junior High with a great band teacher – that isn’t the problem.  The problem is at the district level.   When I began teaching at my school, 7th graders were not allowed to take choir.  This decision was made by the district curriculum person who was a […]

May I draw your attention to this masterclass on DVD given by Simon Carrington who is working with four young conductors on choruses from Handel’s Messiah? This was recorded in Gloucestershire, UK while Simon was here during the Three Choirs Festival in the summer.  You might find his advice and interpretation of this very popular […]

An appeal to Choralnet’s collective wisdom: In spite of all my years of involvement with madrigals of one sort or another I am having difficulty finding any 8 part madrigals for SSAATTBB. I am coaching a Madrigal History Tour as one of the projects during my return to Yale in January and February. The graduate […]